Medical connector apparatus

• US 6,319,031 B1
• Filed: 01/24/2000
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Greenstein, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, HIEN D
• Application Number:
  US09/489,638
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 439/680, 439/488, 439/490, 439/387, 439/732, 439/205, 439/909, 609/149-153
• US Class Current: 439/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5224 for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5227 with evacuation of penetrating liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6641 with diode with LED H01R13/7175
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7172 Conduits for light transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

A medical connector apparatus that includes: (1) a first mating connector having a first conductive portion, (2) a second mating connector having a second conductive portion for electrically coupling to the first conductive portion, and (3) a housing unit with an interior chamber housing the second mating connector. In one embodiment of the invention, two apertures extend between the interior chamber and the housing unit'"'"'s exterior. In another embodiment of the invention, the first mating connector further has a wiping portion for cleaning a portion of the second mating connector adjacent to the second conductive portion. In still another embodiment of the invention, the housing chamber further has a light source positioned near the aperture through which the first mating member enters to electrically couple the first and second conductive portions. In this embodiment, the first mating connector has a light covering portion for covering the light source when the first and second conductive portions couple. The embodiments of the medical connector apparatus described above can serve as electrode connectors for all types of defibrillators.

Claims

1. An electrical medical connector apparatus, comprising

a housing unit having,

an interior chamber,

a semi-cylindrical portion having a semi-cylindrical surface extending into the interior chamber,

two housed electrical connectors, each connector comprising two conductive sleeves electrically insulated from each other by an insulating member,

a front end having a first aperture to receive a cable connector having a semi-cylindrical portion,

a backside, and

a second aperture formed on the backside and connected with the interior chamber to provide an outlet for environmental residue within the interior chamber when the cable connector is inseed into the first aperture to make an electrical connection with the housing unit.

2. The electrical medical connector apparatus of claim 1 further comprising the cable connector operable be inserted into the first aperture of the housing unit, the cable connector comprising four electrical conductors each operable to be electrically connected to a corresponding conductive sleeve of the housed electrical connectors.

3. The electrical medical connector apparatus of claim 2 wherein the cable connector further comprises two sockets, each socket comprising two conductive rings electrically insulated from each other, each conductive ring electrically connected to the corresponding electrical conductor.

4. The electrical medical connector apparatus of claim 3 further comprising an expandable tube surrounding each socket, the expandable tubes expanding when the sockets make electrical connection with the housed electrical connectors.

5. The electrical medical connector apparatus of claim 2 wherein the cable connector further comprises wiping rings adapted to provide a wiping action to the housed electrical connectors.

6. The electrical medical connector apparatus of claim 2 wherein the semi-cylindrical portion of the cable connector further comprises a semi-cylindrical channel formed in the exterior of the cable connector, the semi-cylindrical channel to slide over the semi-cylindrical surface of the housing unit when the cable connector is inserted in the housing unit.

7. The electrical medical connector apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

the semi-cylindrical portion of the housing unit has an opening; and

the cable connector further comprises a covering portion that covers the opening of the semi-cylindrical portion of the housing unit when the cable connector is inserted in the housing unit.

8. An electrical medical cable connector comprising:

a shell;

four electrical conductors, each electrically connected to a respective conductive ring in one of two sockets, each socket including two conductive rings that are electrically insulated from each other by an insulating member, each socket disposed within the shell;

a semi-cylindrical channel formed in the shell to slide over a semi-cylindrical surface of a housing unit into which the cable connector can be inserted to make electrical contact between the cable connector and the housing unit; and

two expandable tubes disposed in the shell and respectively surrounding each of the two sockets.

9. The electrical medical cable connector of claim 8 further comprising a wiping portion adapted to provide a wiping action to electrical connectors of the housing unit into which the cable connector is inserted to make electrical contact between the cable connector and the housing unit.

10. The electrical medical cable connector of claim 9 further comprising a light covering portion extending over the channel and adapted to cover a light disposed within the channel when the cable connector is inserted in the housing unit to make electrical contact between the cable connector and the housing unit.

11. An electrical medical connector apparatus comprising:

a housing unit and an electrical medical cable connector, the housing unit having,

an interior chamber,

the housing unit forming a semi-cylindrical surface extending into the interior chamber,

the housing unit further comprising two housed electrical connectors therein,

each connector comprising two conductive sleeves electrically insulated from each other by an insulating member, and

a front end having an aperture for receiving the electrical medical cable connector; and

wherein the electrical medical cable connector comprises,

four electrical conductors each electrically connected to a respective conductive ring, wherein two sockets each include two of the conductive rings, which are electrically insulated from each other, the sockets disposed within a shell of the electrical medical cable connector, and

a semi-cylindrical channel formed in the shell to slide over the semi-cylindrical surface of the housing unit when the cable connector is inserted to make electrical contact between the cable connector and the housing unit, and

expandable tubes disposed in the shell and respectively disposed around the sockets.

12. The electrical medical connector apparatus of claim 11 wherein the cable connector further comprises a wiping portion adapted to provide a wiping action to the housed electrical connectors.

13. The electrical medical connector apparatus of claim 11 wherein the housing unit is formed from a rigid material and the cable connector is formed from a pliable material.

14. An electrical medical connector apparatus comprising:

a housing unit and an electrical medical cable connector, the housing unit having,

an interior chamber,

the housing unit forming a semi-cylindrical surface extending into the interior chamber,

the housing unit further comprising two housed electrical connectors therein,

each connector comprising two conductive sleeves electrically insulated from each other by an insulating member,

a front end having an aperture for receiving the electrical medical cable connector,

a bottom wall, and

a second aperture connecting with the interior chamber to provide an outlet for environmental residue; and

wherein the electrical medical cable connector comprises,

four electrical conductors each electrically connected to a respective conductive ring, wherein two sockets each include two of the conductive rings, which are electrically insulated from each other, the sockets disposed within a shell of the electrical medical cable connector, and

a semi-cylindrical channel formed in the shell to slide over the semi-cylindrical surface of the housing unit when the cable connector is inserted into the first aperture to make an electrical connection with the housing unit.

15. The electrical medical connector apparatus of claim 14 wherein the cable connector further comprises a wiping portion adapted to provide a wiping action to the housed electrical connectors.

16. The electrical medical connector apparatus of claim 14 wherein the housing unit is formed from a rigid material and the cable connector is formed from a pliable material.

17. A medical connector apparatus comprising:

a female mating connector having an interior chamber housing with two electrical connectors therein, each connector comprising two conductive sleeves that are electrically insulated from each other by a respective insulating member, each sleeve formed from a ring contact on a respective end of the respective insulating member, a light pipe having a light therein and extending along the interior chamber and positioned between the electrical connectors,

wherein the interior chamber of the female mating connector slidably receives a male mating connector having two sockets each including two conductive rings that are electrically insulated from each other by an insulating member, each ring for receiving the corresponding sleeve of the female mating connector.

18. The medical connector apparatus of claim 17 wherein the male mating connector further comprises a respective expandable tube surrounding each socket, the expandable tubes expanding when the sockets make electrical connection with the female mating connector.